Saturday's DREAM 1 Fight Card

DREAM, the upstart fight promotion born out of the former K-1 HERO’S
organization with help from former staffers of PRIDE Fighting
Championships, has (nearly) finalized its fight card for Saturday’s
debut show.

The event, which takes place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama,
Japan, includes the opening round of a lightweight grand prix, as well
as the return of former UFC and PRIDE fighter Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.

The event airs in Japan on the Tokyo Broadcasting System beginning at 7 p.m. JST. The event won’t be broadcast in the U.S.

“DREAM 1″ is slated to feature a main event between Shinya Aoki (14-2)
and Gesias “JZ” Calvancante (14-1-1), two of the 16 lightweights taking
part in the grand prix. Ikuhisa Minowa — who’s
slated to compete in the night’s first bout — is without an opponent. Additionally, only 14 participants have been announced for the 16-man grand-prix tournament.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.